Hear, Hear: The Sound of "It Was Here He Received His Only Formal Education" by The Muster Point Project (Album Review)

With a vintage pop/rock, country sound and traces of personal yet relatable endeavour, The Muster Point Project has definitely poured their entire hearts and souls into this album. Thirteen tracks of beautifully raw experiences put together, and they’ve got me saying “your music’s got a hold of me, and I don’t mind giving in”!

To start off, the way they bring together all the different elements and instruments into each individual song is brilliant, which is an essential part of effectively ensuring the point or the message comes across well. Production-wise, overall brilliance just seeps through.

What’s truly great about this album is the songwriting. On the band’s bandcamp page, they’ve got you covered with a complete set of lyrics, and as someone who adores analyzing them, I’m eternally grateful. The record starts with “Don’t Give Me Anything” which immediately paves the way for expectations on the rest of the songs. Next up, “Nothing Ever Goes Away” brings you an even more country-er vibe, and the lyrics “Sometimes I feel like it’s going my way / Top of the world, it’s a sunny day / Then it’s gone” which is easily relatable for almost all ages and generations.

“This Town Has Changed” has an unforgettable chorus including the title itself, not to mention it is definitely ear-catching, with lyrics such as “Something in the air just ain’t right / hasn’t been the same since that cold, cold night” and “I wonder where the years all went / laughing ‘bout our goofy times, and how our luck was bent”. “Now We’re Successful” emphasizes reminiscence, looking back in the past and the progress made in the present time. Structure-wise, it’s easy to digest with remarkable melodies to accompany the message with.

Another thing worth noting about this album is the abundance of references and storytelling. The former, of which the age group of the lyricist can probably recognize and relate to, include tracks such as “Welcome New Member” (that also includes a striking chorus of “Have you paid your dues? / Have you paid, you’re due”); it seems like We Didn’t Start The Fire but in a different font, “The Singing Mailman” is a lovely little song with a great narrative, some name drops here and there to get the flow going (the subtle lyric change of “He’ll be a folk song hero / And it won’t be long” and “Now John’s a folk song hero / And it didn’t take long” is a nice addition), and lastly, both Canadian and International versions of “I’ve Heard It All”, which comprises different names and references, as well as great guitar fills!

“Old Black Suit” is quite literally incredible yet devastating. It tackles about getting old, and the reflection of putting on a suit whether it’d be for a celebration or mourning, which is the tragic reality of life. “Never Be The Same” leans heavily on the theme of moving on, with lyrics like “Who’s got time to live in the past / When half your life’s gone by so fast”. “The Chaser”, on the other hand, is more of a message, as the lyrics cleverly state “I choose chasers over chasing you” and “Can’t pretend to know myself if you never knew me at all”. In essence, it contains a declaration of hate and best wishes at the same time. All three songs have equally somber topics, but it still has that tinge of hope, and it’s what makes them good ones.

The tenth track on the album came as such a pleasant surprise with it being a song completely in Spanish. “Como Los Jaivas”, despite having to scramble to a translator to understand anything, is about visiting Chile and making friends, just overall enjoying and respecting the culture and language. It is both a fun and wholesome song.

Last but not the least, “What it’s Doing to You” exceeds expectations with a jaw-dropping catchy harmony of piano and guitar throughout the song. With words such as “Now, I care about you, maybe more than I should / From my little home, same neighborhood as you” and remarkable instrumentals, it’s as if The Muster Point Project went off with a bang by putting this one as the final track.

All in all, it’s a great listen. So, don’t give me pity, sorrow, or anything except for recognition for this album, because it’s such an experience worth tuning in to.